Cooling apparatus for continuous casting plants

ABSTRACT

A continuous casting apparatus includes a mold for forming a continuous cast flat strip and which includes a plate cooler on each side, having means for circulating a cooling medium therethrough. Each plate cooler includes at least one cooling media passage which has been admitted with a cooling medium for flow in a direction opposite the direction of the cast strip in a central zone, and then transverse to the direction of movement at the entrance end of the mold. The complete flow includes at least a partial flow along each side zone of the cooler in the direction of the travel of the strip. An alternate embodiment of the apparatus includes a single central flow passage for the cooling medium and a plurality of obliquely expanding transverse passages leading to end passages which extend in the direction of strip material flow. In accordance with the method the cooling medium is directed so that it will flow initially in a direction opposite to the direction of strip material movement in a central area, then in a direction transverse to the flow at the entrance end of the mold, and preferably in directions comparable to the direction of strip movement along each side edge of the mold. In a multiplied form of the method the transverse flow is divided up into a plurality of oblique transverse flow paths extending generally in a direction of the strip material advance.

United States Patent lnventors Alfred Adamec;

, Roland Leder, both of Vienna, Austria [21] Appl. No. 864,829

[22] Filed Oct. 8, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [73] Assignee Wiener Schwachstremwerke Gmbll Vienna, Austria [32] Priority Nov. 15, 1968 [33] Austria [31] Al1l27/68 [54] COOLING APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING PLANTS 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 266/3, 164/283, 165/168 [51] lnt.Cl C21d 9/56 [50] Field of Search 266/3; 164/82, 86, 283; 165/168 [56] Relerences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,638,337 5/1953 Harasty 266/3 3,157,921 11/1964 Porter 164/283 3,447,592 6/1969 Wertli 164/283 3,473,601 10/1969 Pfenning 164/283 Primary Examiner-Leonidas Vlachos Atlorney- McGlew and Toren ABSTRACT: A continuous casting apparatus includes a mold for forming a continuous cast flat strip and which includes a plate cooler on each side, having means for circulating a cooling medium therethrough. Each plate cooler includes at least one cooling media passage which has been admitted with a cooling medium for flow in a direction opposite the direction of the cast strip in a central zone, and then transverse to the direction of movement at the entrance end of the mold. The complete flow includes at least a partial flow along each side zone of the cooler in the direction of the travel of the strip. An alternate embodiment of the apparatus includes a single central flow passage for the cooling medium and a plurality of obliquely expanding transverse passages leading to end passages which extend in the direction of strip material flow. In accordance with the method the cooling medium is directed so that it will flow initially in a direction opposite to the direction of strip material movement in a central area, then in a direction transverse to the flow at the entrance end of the mold, and preferably in directions comparable to the direction of strip movement along each side edge of the mold. In a multiplied form of the method the transverse flow is divided up into a plurality of oblique transverse flow paths extending generally in a direction of the strip material advance.

PATENTEUDEB mu aszsldaa INVENTOR .5 FRED HDH MEL LRND LEDEVQ SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for forming continuous cast strips, and, in particular, to a new and useful strip casting device, which includes one or more cooling plates, having a plurality of cooling medium flow passages defined therein and to a method of directing cooling medium in association with the strip casting mold.

Cooling apparatus, which is used in the continuous casting of strip, comprises a plate cooler which extends parallel to and contacts the continuous casting mold, preferably on both broad sides thereof and preferably providing coolant stream throughout the width of the strip being formed. With the known duct-type cooling devices, it is usual that the heat transfer conditions which exist in the cooling of the fiat continuous cast strip result in a formation of parabolic lines on the upper and lower surfaces of the strip. The lines are due to the solidification phenomena, and the resulting strip has a heterogeneous structure near the lines and a heterogeneous structure virtually throughout the strip edge portions. This heterogeneous structure is not desirable for the further processing of the strip, for example, by cold rolling, and therefore results in a formation of cracks and holes in the strip edge portions. It has been proposed to avoid these disadvantages by supplying heat to the edge zones of the solidifying strip by additional heating elements so that a more homogeneous structure is obtained. On the other hand, the heating of a cooling apparatus is complicated and reduces the thermal efficiency of the operation of the device.

In accordance with the present invention the disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by providing a plate having coolant passages defined therein which are arranged to permit inlet flow of the coolant material in a direction opposite to the withdrawing direction of the strip. In addition, the passages are formed such that two or more outlet ducts are defined adjacent the edge zone of the strip being cooled. The flow is advantageously in a direction opposite to the flow of the strip at the coolant inlets and mold discharge end, and then transversely at the entrance end of the mold and back in a direction of strip travel at locations of the sides of the strip.

Alternatively, in accordance with the preferred apparatus, the inlet may be through a central zone and then through one or more obliquely extending transverse zones for flow to a side zone in a direction of the strip material movement. The cooling pattern is chosen in accordance with the method of the invention to provide a temperature distribution to obtain a uniform cooling throughout the cross section of the strip and a homogeneous structure at the edge of the strip.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for cooling continuously formed strip material which includes one or more plate coolers adapted to contact the molds exterior surface and including passages defined therein which provide for direct inlet fiow of the cooler, and separate cocurrent flow in a side zone on each side of the strip being formed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mold cooler which includes a flat cooler body having a plurality of longitudinal passages defined therein with means for directing an inletfiow in a first countercurrent direction in a central area of the plate cooler, and means for directing a coolant flow transversely at the entrance end of the mold and then in the direction of strip travel on each side'of the mold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plate cooler for a continuous casting device which includes passages defined thereat for coolant which are directed such that the coolant may enter in a central area and flow in a direction opposite the direction of strip travel and be directed through transverse or obliquely extending passages for flow in a direction of strip travel along each side on the mold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of directing a coolant for cooling the mold of a continuous passing device for flat strips which comprises directing the coolant through a central zone in a direction opposite the strip travel, directing the coolant which leaves the central zone in a transverse direction facing the inlet side of the mold, and thereafter directing the transversely directed coolant through at least a path on each side of the mold in the direction of strip travel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plate cooler for a continuous casting mold which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a mold having a plate cooler associated therewith constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taking along the line II-II of FIG. 1 of a first embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and particularly to the invention embodied therein in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a mold generally designated 10 for forming continuous strip of cast material 12. In accordance with the invention the mold I0 is cooled by flat plate coolers l and l which are arranged on respective opposite flat sides thereof.

In accordance with a feature of the invention the plate cooler 1 includes a plurality of inlet ducts, in this instance two inlet ducts 2 and 2' which permit the inflow of the coolant in a direction opposite to the feed direction 9 for the strip material 12. The interior of the plate cooler 1 is divided into a plurality of longitudinally extending infeed conduits 14 which permit flow in the direction of the arrows, which is a countercurrent flow in respect to the direction of movement and of the temperature of the cast material as indicated by arrow 9.

At the trailing end of the mold is a transverse passageway 16 which provides communication between the inlets 2 and 2 and the respective longitudinal passageways 14. An entrance or forward end of the mold includes a passage 18 which permits transverse flow at the entrance end of the plate cooler l and then side flow through side passages 19, 19 to respective outlets 4 and 4 which are arranged at the respective side of the mold overlying the sides of the strip material 12. With such an arrangement the central flow through the passages 14 in a crosscurrent direction provides the greatest degree of cooling in the central area of the strip 12 and a flow through the passages 4 and 4' permits a reduced rate of cooling for the strip material 12 at the side zones thereof.

In the alternate embodiment, FIG. 2, a cooling plate 5 similar to the cooling plate 1 comprises a central zone with an inlet passage 6 permitting a countercurrent flow along the complete length of the cooler into one or more of the plurality of oblique transverse passages 7 on one side of the cooler and 7' on the opposite side. The passages 7 and 7 communicate at outer ends with side passages 8 and 8' having flow in a direction which is the same as the direction of strip material movement as indicated by the arrow 9. The ducts 7 and 7' extend in an oblique angle, preferably of 60, to the strip withdrawing direction. In this embodiment the plate cooler is provided with a mold entrance end with oblique side portions 20 and 20 and an intermediate or central perpendicular portion 22. The central portion 22 extends at right angles to the withdrawal direction for the strip material 12 and it preferably is of a length which is not larger than approximately one-half the width of the cooling plate 5.

In accordance with that method of the invention the cooling medium is directed into the plate coolers l or 5 in a direction countercurrent to the withdrawal direction for the strip material 12. Thereafter the coolant may flow generally laterally or transversely either at right angles to the direction of strip withdrawal or at an angle which extends obliquely in respect thereto. After the cooling medium gives up a portion of its heat in the initial path in a direction opposite to the withdrawal direction it is permitted to flow in a direction which is identical to or approximates the withdrawal direction along the side cooling zone area so that the strip will not be overcooled in such locations.

We claim:

1. A method of cooling a continuous casting in the form of strip material as it passes through a mold in a first direction, the strip material having a width dimension considerably greater than its thickness dimension, comprising directing a single cooling medium through a flow path in association with the portion of the mold contacting the width dimension of the strip material, introducing the cooling medium for passage in a second direction in countercurrent flow to the first direction and with the flow passing opposite the center region of the strip material which region is spaced inwardly from the edges of the strip material, at the completion of the flow in the second direction flowing the cooling medium in a third direction transverse to the second direction and outwardly from the center region to the edge regions of the strip material, after reaching the edge regions of the strip material directing the cooling medium in a fourth direction substantially parallel and countercurrent to the second direction along the edge regions of the strips whereby the cooling medium initially cools the center region of the strip material as it flows in countercurrent relationship therewith then is directed transversely to the edge regions and with the cooling medium at an elevated temperature as compared to its inlet temperature so that it flows over the edge regions of the strip material at a higher temperature than that at which it flows past the center region of the strip material.

2. A method, as set forth in claim I, characterized in that the transverse flow of the cooling medium in the third direction is substantially normal to the first direction of the passage of the strip material through the mold.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 1., characterized in that the transverse flow of the cooling medium in the third direction is in a direction extending obliquely to the first direction in which the strip material is withdrawn from the mold.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the transverse fiow of the cooling medium in the third direction is in a plurality of transverse flow paths extending from the flow path in the first direction opposite the center region of the strip material to the flow paths in the fourth direction opposite the edge regions of the strip material.

5. Cooling device for the continuous casting of strip material through a mold in a first direction with the strip material having a width dimension considerably greater than its thickness dimension, at least one cooling plate disposed in contact with the portion of said mold opposite the width side of the strip material passing through the mold, said cooling plate containing a system of interconnected flow passages extending therethrough, said cooling plate having a first end located downstream in the direction of flow of the strip material through said mold from a second end, an inlet to said flow passages located at the first end of said cooling plate, at least a single first flow passage connected to said inlet and extending toward the second end of said cooling plate in parallel and countercurrent flow relationship to the first direction of flow of the strip material through said mold, said first flow passage being disposed opposite the center region of the width side of the strip material, a second fiow passage connected to said first flow passage at the second end of said cooling plate and extending transversely of the first direction of the strip material through said mold, said second flow passage extending across the width side of the strip material so that its ends are at least disposed opposite the side edges of the width side of the strip material, and at least two third flow passages extending in the first direction of the flow of the strip material and connected to said second flow passage and being located opposite and extending along the regions of the side edges of the width side of the strip material, said cooling plate forming an outlet at the end of each said third fiow passageway located at the first end of said cooling plate for withdrawing cooling medium after its flow therethrough, whereby the cooling medium flows in a continuous flow path through said cooling plate passing first through the first flow passage wherein it removes heat from the strip material and then after reaching the second end of the cooling plate it is directed transversely outwardly through the second fiow passages to the region opposite the side edges of the strip material and then passes through the third passages opposite the side edges of the strip material where it continues to withdraw heat from the strip material and is at an elevated temperature relative to its inlet temperature into the first fiow passage.

6. Cooling device, as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that at least a portion of said second flow passage being disposed obliquely relative to the first direction of flow of the strip material through said mold.

7. Cooling device, as set forth in claim 6, characterized in that said second flow passage comprising a plurality of second flow passages extending obliquely to the first direction of flow of the strip material through said mold and extending laterally from each side of said first flow passage to a position opposite the side edges of the strip material within said mold.

8. Cooling device, as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said obliquely extending second flow passages being in spaced relationship along the end of said first flow passage adjacent the second end of said cooling plate and the opposite ends of said obliquely extending second flow passages terminating in a single third flow passage disposed opposite the side edge of the strip material passing through said mold.

9. A cooling device, as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that said first flow passage comprises a plurality of individual passages extending in parallel relationship from the first end to the second end of said cooling plate and terminating at the second end within said second flow passage. 

1. A method of cooling a continuous casting in the form of strip material as it passes through a mold in a first direction, the strip material having a width dimension considerably greater than its thickness dimension, comprising directing a single cooling medium through a flow path in association with the portion of the mold contacting the width dimension of the strip material, introducing the cooling medium for passage in a second direction in countercurrent flow to the first direction and with the flow passing opposite the center region of the strip material which region is spaced inwardly from the edges of the strip material, at the completion of the flow in the second direction flowing the cooling medium in a third direction transverse to the second direction and outwardly from the center region to the edge regions of the strip material, after reaching the edge regions of the strip material directing the cooling medium in a fourth direction substantially parallel and countercurrent to the second direction along the edge regions of the strips whereby the cooling medium initially cools the center region of the strip material as it flows in countercurrent relationship therewith then is directed transversely to the edge regions and with the cooling medium at an elevated temperature as compared to its inlet temperature so that it flows over the edge regions of the strip materiAl at a higher temperature than that at which it flows past the center region of the strip material.
 2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the transverse flow of the cooling medium in the third direction is substantially normal to the first direction of the passage of the strip material through the mold.
 3. A method, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the transverse flow of the cooling medium in the third direction is in a direction extending obliquely to the first direction in which the strip material is withdrawn from the mold.
 4. A method, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the transverse flow of the cooling medium in the third direction is in a plurality of transverse flow paths extending from the flow path in the first direction opposite the center region of the strip material to the flow paths in the fourth direction opposite the edge regions of the strip material.
 5. Cooling device for the continuous casting of strip material through a mold in a first direction with the strip material having a width dimension considerably greater than its thickness dimension, at least one cooling plate disposed in contact with the portion of said mold opposite the width side of the strip material passing through the mold, said cooling plate containing a system of interconnected flow passages extending therethrough, said cooling plate having a first end located downstream in the direction of flow of the strip material through said mold from a second end, an inlet to said flow passages located at the first end of said cooling plate, at least a single first flow passage connected to said inlet and extending toward the second end of said cooling plate in parallel and countercurrent flow relationship to the first direction of flow of the strip material through said mold, said first flow passage being disposed opposite the center region of the width side of the strip material, a second flow passage connected to said first flow passage at the second end of said cooling plate and extending transversely of the first direction of the strip material through said mold, said second flow passage extending across the width side of the strip material so that its ends are at least disposed opposite the side edges of the width side of the strip material, and at least two third flow passages extending in the first direction of the flow of the strip material and connected to said second flow passage and being located opposite and extending along the regions of the side edges of the width side of the strip material, said cooling plate forming an outlet at the end of each said third flow passageway located at the first end of said cooling plate for withdrawing cooling medium after its flow therethrough, whereby the cooling medium flows in a continuous flow path through said cooling plate passing first through the first flow passage wherein it removes heat from the strip material and then after reaching the second end of the cooling plate it is directed transversely outwardly through the second flow passages to the region opposite the side edges of the strip material and then passes through the third passages opposite the side edges of the strip material where it continues to withdraw heat from the strip material and is at an elevated temperature relative to its inlet temperature into the first flow passage.
 6. Cooling device, as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that at least a portion of said second flow passage being disposed obliquely relative to the first direction of flow of the strip material through said mold.
 7. Cooling device, as set forth in claim 6, characterized in that said second flow passage comprising a plurality of second flow passages extending obliquely to the first direction of flow of the strip material through said mold and extending laterally from each side of said first flow passage to a position opposite the side edges of the strip material within said mold.
 8. Cooling device, as set forth in claim 7, characterIzed in that said obliquely extending second flow passages being in spaced relationship along the end of said first flow passage adjacent the second end of said cooling plate and the opposite ends of said obliquely extending second flow passages terminating in a single third flow passage disposed opposite the side edge of the strip material passing through said mold.
 9. A cooling device, as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that said first flow passage comprises a plurality of individual passages extending in parallel relationship from the first end to the second end of said cooling plate and terminating at the second end within said second flow passage. 